Medford School District tries for new athletic facilities

MEDFORD (WAOW) -- Medford takes another shot this April at a new gym, pool, and fitness center that would be open to students and the community.

"We think it's a great project. It would help the community, from young children in the district to senior citizens in the district," Mike Bub of the Medford All Sports Booster Club said.

Some say the budget crunch schools will soon face is reason enough to put a stop to the project.

One person says the schools current facilities are more than adequate.

"You don't spend money on something you don't need, and I feel most of the population, whether they've said it or not, feel it's unneeded," Medford Resident Jim Mildbrand Jr. said.

The district administrator says despite what's happening with the budget that has little impact on a new pool, gym, and fitness center. He says the only impact those new facilities would have is in operational costs."

"Everything coming out of Madison does confuse it a little bit. The permission we would be getting from the voters would be to build this facility. That money would have nothing to do with our operation budget." Superintendent Pat Sullivan said.

School leaders expect the proposed facility to cost about $10 million. But the cost could come down if the referendum passes, because several area businesses and organizations have combined to donate about $1 million.

The superintendent estimates the operational costs of the facility at about $168,000 dollars.

He says that is a very small piece of their $21 million budget.

"Our facilities at the high school dictate our curriculum. It really should be the other way around," Sullivan said.

People in Medford can expect to pay less than $70 per $100,000 of property value per year.